Who Are We

Our Story

At Network38, our mission is to bridge the gap between exceptional college athletes and meaningful career opportunities by leveraging the trusted recommendations of coaches. We empower student-athletes to transition successfully from sports to the workplace, connecting talent with organizations that value discipline, leadership, and a winning mindset. No guesswork. Just proven talent.

Founder Phil Sweeney is a former college athlete and longtime coach who spent 25 years in the world of college athletics. Over those years, Phil did more than just build winning teams; he helped athletes step into life after sports.

Phil saw a gap in the transition from college athlete to career professional. Most student-athletes finish college with drive, discipline, and teamwork experience, but little on a resume. What they do have is years of coaching, structure, and accountability. We exist to bridge that gap.

Network38 brings the power of a personal recommendation and a human relationship to finding jobs and hiring. We believe there’s real value in knowing who you’re hiring, not just what’s written on a resume.

Through strong partnerships with college athletic programs, we connect local businesses with high-character student-athletes who are entering the workforce. But what truly sets us apart is this: these candidates come highly recommended by their coaches, people who have mentored, challenged, and observed them every day for four to five years.

We’re based in West Michigan and serve employers and athletes nationwide. We build real partnerships with organizations, helping them hire A+ individuals who can help shape the future of the business. With insight from the ones who know these athletes best, their coaches, we don’t guess, we match.

FAQ

Why did you decide to focus on student-athletes?
We saw a clear gap in the hiring process. Student-athletes bring discipline, leadership, and a winning mindset, but those strengths often don’t show up on a resume. As a talent agency, we focus on helping these individuals transition from college athletics into meaningful careers.

How is Network38 different from other recruiting companies?
We’re not just another staffing agency relying on filters and keywords. We work through trusted coach referrals and personal relationships, so the matches we make are based on real character and team fit.

What types of roles can you help to fill?
We help businesses fill entry-level full-time positions and internships in sales, logistics, operations, marketing, customer support, and more.

Do you only work with recent graduates?
Our focus is on athletes transitioning into the workforce, but we also work with alumni who are early in their careers and looking for the right opportunity.

Do you offer long-term placement support?
Yes. We’re here for more than one hire. Many of our business partners continue to grow their teams through us as their needs evolve.